Active Vehicle Safety Promotes Life Saving Technology

Share:

DEARBORN, Mich., September 6, 2006 --Collaborate 2006 will highlight Active Vehicle Safety with a special session on day two of the event, which takes place October 11-12 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The session will go in-depth into the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) initiative for implementing strategies to save lives and relieve traffic congestion. This life saving technology will greatly affect future vehicle design. Panelists will include Jim Schultz, Co-Chair of the Business Models Subcommittee of the National VII Coalition, Barbara Wendling, Co-Chair of the Institutional Issues Subcommittee of the National VII Coalition and Daimler Chrysler Corp., and Ralph Robinson, President of the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration Consortium and Ford Motor Co.

According to the Institute for Transportation Engineers, the time for Active Vehicle Safety technology has come, given the feasibility of crash prevention with its implementation. Technologies such as air bags and safety belts have reached the height of their effectiveness. In order to save more lives, the transportation community must now work to prevent crashes from happening in the first place. The VII initiative seeks to reduce the approximately 21,000 deaths occurring annually on America's highways that are caused by roadway departures and intersection-related incidents.

The US Department of Transportation (US DOT) is committed to reducing
deaths and injuries on American highways, and improving mobility. Annually,
approximately 43,000 people die in motor vehicle crashes, and approximately
1.3 million are injured. In addition, traffic crashes and congestion are estimated to cost society $230 billion annually.

The Active Vehicle Safety Session complements an impressive roster of some of the leading lights of the automotive, aerospace and defense worlds.
Companies such as Ford Motor Company, Daimler/Chrysler Corporation, Toyota Corporation, Michigan DOT, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and United Airlines will participate in this unique conference and exposition taking place October 10-12 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) is partnering with the Alabama Aerospace Industry Association and the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association on Collaborate 2006.

Session Focus:
The Active Automotive Safety Session will focus on an overview of the VII concept of operations, enabling technologies, use cases, program structure, and social and political issues associated with potential deployment.

About the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration Initiative:
The Vehicle Infrastructure Integration Initiative is a US DOT program administered by the ITS Joint Programs Office within US DOT in collaboration with State DOT's and automobile manufacturers. The VII Initiative is aimed at determining the feasibility of deploying advanced vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications that could enhance driver safety by increasing situational awareness, and facilitating active safety system deployment. If deployed, VII is also expected to provide mobility, productivity, and convenience benefits in terms of reduced congestion and fuel consumption, improved productivity, and better services for road users.
For more information visit www.vehicle-infrastructure.org

About the Alabama Aerospace Industry Association:
The Alabama Aerospace Industry Association (AAIA) was formed in 2003 to provide a unified voice in the state on issues of mutual interest, especially education, workforce development, and economic development. The mission is to make Alabama the next nationally and internationally recognized "Aerospace State" by identifying and capitalizing on its sustainable competitive advantages.

About the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association:
The Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association (AAMA) was formed in
2001 to provide a forum for interaction among automotive companies in Alabama, to share information among its members and to provide an awareness of manufacturing trends, techniques and concerns. The mission is to promote growth and continuous improvement of automotive manufacturing in Alabama.

About SME:
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers is the world's leading professional society supporting manufacturing education. Through its member programs, publications, expositions and professional development resources, SME promotes an increased awareness of manufacturing engineering and helps keep manufacturing professionals up to date on leading trends and technologies. Headquartered in Michigan, SME influences more than half a million manufacturing engineers and executives annually. The Society has members in 70 countries and is supported by a network of hundreds of chapters worldwide.